Leaked images suggest iPad Pro could feature USB-C tech

Despite each iPad launch cycle passing without so much as a hint from Apple, rumours suggesting the company plans to launch a larger iPad Pro refuse to go away.

On Monday, the mythical slate was back in the headlines thanks to the appearance of images claiming to show a ‘dummy’ shell for the iPad Pro. The snaps appear to show casing with an unidentified port on the side of the device.

Reports have speculated this additional port may be a secondary Lightning port or a USB-C slot, suggesting users will be able to physically connect accessories or charge the device in different ways.

The rumoured inclusion of a USB Type-C port follows the launch of the new 12-inch Apple MacBook laptop, which eschewed the MagSafe charging solution and all other ports in favour of a solitary reversible USB solution.

While it is entirely plausible Apple will seek to bring the tech to the iPad line in due course, it’s unlikely its inclusion would come as an additional port. It seems more probable that Apple would drop Lightning completely and replace it it with USB-C.

MacRumours suggests the dummy case, which was first picked up by Dutch siteVandaagApple, may have been created by a third-party case manufacturer. The site claims these cases often appear based on rumours or ‘leaked schematics.’

Elsewhere on the case is a speaker grille, headphone jack, a camera lens with light sensor, a microphone and volume buttons.

It has been relatively quiet on the iPad Pro front since Apple refreshed its iPad Air and iPad mini lines before Christmas.

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